We’re Hiring! Manager of Legal Services and Advocacy

We’re Hiring!
Working at Battered Women’s Support Services means making real change in the lives of women
Manager of Legal Services and Advocacy
Through expanding our legal advocacy work, Battered Women’s Support Services is seeking a visionary, exceptional
and energetic part-time Manager of Legal Services and Advocacy to manage our Legal Services and Advocacy
Program. This includes program and service development and delivery, supervising staff, interns and volunteers,
resource development such as donor engagement and writing funding submissions and reports, law reform, media
appearances, and consulting with collateral organizations and community members. As established this position is 24
hours weekly and commences as soon as possible.
Battered Women’s Support Services (“BWSS”) works to end violence against women through service delivery,
training, systemic advocacy and social enterprise. Our dynamic team of skilled, determined and empathic staff and
volunteers respond to over 10,000 requests for service and provide training to 1,200 professionals annually. Based
at an unpublished location in Vancouver, BWSS operates a crisis line, offers legal advocacy and representation,
support groups, counselling, employment programming, and specialized support for Indigenous, Refugee and
Immigrant women. Together with our Board of Directors and donors, we work for women’s liberation bringing women
and girls together around a shared vision taking action to change oppressive conditions impacting women’s lives.
Growing out of 37 years of leading on violence against women and the law, BWSS Legal Services and
Advocacy Program offers legal representation, training and advocacy from decolonizing and intersectional
feminist perspective where the law intersects with violence against women including family law, immigration
law, criminal law, Indigenous law and child welfare.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership
Responsible for the overall development, operation, delivery and evaluation of BWSS Legal Services and
Advocacy Program.
As a member of BWSS Leadership Team, manages the daily operation of a high intensity work
environment.
Provides BWSS advice related to service provision, legal education and law reform matters.
Prepares annual funding submissions to Legal Services and Advocacy Program funders and prepares
reports for funders.
Leads legal services and advocacy program meetings, facilitates participation, identifies and resolves
issues.
Works in collaboration with designated Leadership Team personnel develops, recommends and implements
program budgets, monitoring progress throughout the year and taking corrective action.
Attends Leadership Team meetings and presents program outcomes while working in collaboration with
other BWSS managers for the benefit of the women we serve.
Acts as a liaison and advisor to government and non-governmental institutions and agencies on legal issues
related to the legal rights of women survivors of violence, access to justice and other issues.
Works with BWSS resource development and communications teams to develop and deploy fundraising
and communications campaigns.

Supervision
Supervises staff, students and volunteers including recruitment, interviewing, hiring, performance review,
training and disciplinary actions.
In collaboration with BWSS Leadership Team supervises daily operations to ensure that BWSS and funder
practices, policies and procedures are followed and that work is carried out consist to BWSS ethical
framework.
Mentors and coaches staff, students and volunteers to ensure optimal engagement, provide motivation,
identify issues and mediate conflict.
Monitors staff participation in mandatory professional development programs and compliance with Law
Society of BC regulations.
Oversees the development and deployment of BWSS legal training programs.
Oversees the co-ordination of law student volunteers in the Legal Services and Advocacy Program and
oversees the design and delivery of law student training, supervision and evaluations.
Oversees legal staff participation in community coalitions, organizations, networks, community development
processes, law reform and systemic advocacy initiatives on behalf of women experiencing violence.
Direct Service Provision
Provides summary legal advice to women who experience violence in the areas of family, immigration, child
welfare, Indigenous, criminal law and other areas of administrative law.
Interview women, assess/analyze legal problems, assist in resolving legal problems, assist women to
prepare for court, prepare documents, represent at hearings, consult with legal supervisor.
Provides advocacy on behalf of women with a variety of representatives of other legal service providers.
Delivers legal clinics at BWSS offices and other locations, in collaboration with legal partners and the legal
community.
Research
Researches, interprets and assesses legal precedents for relevance to active cases.
Consults with members of the bar and other legal system professionals, experts in non-legal fields and
community representatives to coordinate services, create efficiencies, identify emerging trends and create
systemic responses to women accessing BWSS services and programs.
Keeps apprised and updated on case law, statutes, regulations and guidelines in areas of law relevant to
the BWSS legal programs and services.
Systemic Advocacy and Law Reform
Participates on various external stakeholder Advisory Committees and Boards of Directors of legal service
organizations to represent and promote the interests of women who experience violence.
Works in collaboration with BWSS Communications Team to comment on legal matters relevant to
accessing BWSS services and programs.
Engages in a variety of law reform initiatives on behalf of BWSS and in alliance with other social justice
organizations to promote legislative and legal system change, including intervener applications to the
Supreme Court of Canada.
Acts as a liaison with and advises collateral organizations and legal and non-legal service providers on
issues relating to legal systems that impact on women dealing with violence.
Oversees the design and delivery of public legal education and professional development programs for the
legal, health care and other professional and service providers.
Designs and manages a variety of community development projects undertaken by BWSS Legal Services
and Advocacy Program.

Administration
Prepares Quarterly and Year-End Reports for funders.
Oversees cheque requisitions for legal expenditures.
Oversees the collection and storage of information, statistics and data.
Oversees record management.
Accountability
Works within a multi-disciplinary team to fosters collaboration and accountability to ensure smooth
operations at BWSS and a high quality level of service.
Reports to the Executive Director.
Adheres to the constitution, statement of philosophy, policies and procedures of the Society.
Strives to create trusting, respectful and supportive relationships with the Leadership Team, other BWSS
staff and volunteers.
Consults with a supervising lawyer.
Creates and recommends legal department policies, protocols and practices in support of service and
program delivery.
Communicates with team members to share information, provide debriefing opportunities and resolve
problems.
Facilitates monthly program team meetings.
Regularly attends across agencies meetings and workshops
Represents BWSS in public fora and events to promote BWSS mission and mandate.
Establishes a program planning process which includes developing short and long term goals for BWSS
legal services and advocacy work.
Readily discusses her work with BWSS colleagues and her supervisor
Addresses personal issues that arise during the course of her work at BWSS by attending therapy including
EAP, or through other appropriate venues.
Represents the Society positively and professionally with the community.
Participates in professional development programs to expand knowledge and skills.
Works collaboratively with and supports the diversity of women within the context of a diverse agency that’s
committed to decolonizing and intersectional analysis.
Complies with Clinic and funder policies and procedures.
Performs other tasks as required.
Core Competencies:
Commitment to working collaboratively with and supporting women of diversity within the context of a
diverse agency;
Engagement in a self-reflective, ethical & collaborative practice that is non-judgmental and empathic and
reflects the vision and mission statements at BWSS;
Incorporation of principles of decolonizing and intersectional anti-oppression feminism in responding to the
service needs of women;
Commitment to working toward removing systemic barriers to women’s independence and wellbeing;
Excellent interpersonal, organizational, time-management and problem-solving skills; written and oral
communication skills;
Ability to work and support others in the context of a diverse environment;
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a multi-disciplinary environment;
Be hardworking, and a self-starter, creative and highly motivated;
Share ideas and differences in the spirit of collaboration and cooperation; and,
Commitment to ongoing personal and professional development.

Minimum Qualifications:
Minimum 5 years’ experience as a lawyer with at least 3 years specific to violence against women the law
Demonstrated management experience
Understanding of legal and social issues of violence against women consistent with a decolonizing and antioppression
feminist analysis
Commitment to working co-operatively in a woman positive, multi-disciplinary, not for profit environment
Demonstrated innovation and initiative
Strong consultation, facilitation, mediation and negotiation skills
Analytical and strategic in thinking
Demonstrated analysis, knowledge and training in trauma informed service delivery
Demonstrated knowledge and experience with computer software including but not limited to: Word, Excel,
Outlook, and PowerPoint
Knowledge of the law relating to family, immigration criminal, Indigenous and administrative matters
Member in good standing of the Law Society of BC
Ability to speak language(s) other than English preferred
Salary: Salary is negotiable and all positions include a comprehensive benefits package offered through a group
plan including enrollment into a Municipal Pension Plan.
Start Date: Immediately
Battered Women’s Support Services promotes the principles of decolonizing and anti-oppression feminism and
adheres to the tenets of the British Columbia Human Rights Code. We encourage applications from women of all
races, ethnic origins, religions, abilities and sexual orientations. We thank all candidates for their interest. However,
only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.
Deadline for Resumes: Deadline for application is April 3, 2017.
To apply, please submit your cover letter and resume:
By email in ONE attachment, as a PDF or Word Doc to: endingviolence@bwss.org
Subject Title: Manager Legal Services and Advocacy Hiring Committee
In your cover letter, please indicate where you found our job posting.